Akai has expanded its range of MPC devices with the Element, a compact pad-based controller that ships with the new MPC Essentials software.

Billed as the most affordable MPC ever - it'll cost $150 in the US - this sits below the MPC Renaissance and MPC Studio, but offers the same multi-colour and pressure/velocity-sensitive pads. Classic MPC features - such as Note Repeat, Swing, Full Level, 16 Level, and Tap Tempo - are present and correct, too.

The MPC Essentials software, meanwhile, works standalone or as a plugin and on both 32- and 64-bit systems. It comes with a 1GB sound library, and enables you to import samples and assign them to any pad. You can create up to eight pad banks, and each pad can be assigned four samples and four insert effects.

You can find out more on the Akai Pro website or below. The MPC Element will ship in October.

MPC Element hardware features

Fuses legendary MPC beat and song creation capability with the power of your computer